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How can I show that $P(A \cap B) \gt P(A) + P(B) - 1$

I know that $P(A \cap B)= P(A)P(B)$

But I don't see how that can help me get to that inequality. Can someone give me a hint on how to start this?

JMP
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Hidaw
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5 Answers5

7

The $>$ sign should change to $\ge$ to make sense. This is because $$P(A\cup B)\le 1$$ $$P(A)+P(B)-P(A\cap B)\le 1$$ $$P(A)+P(B)-1\le P(A\cap B)$$

msm
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7

It's not true as stated, but with $\ge$ instead of $>$ it would be true. Note that $$ P(A) + P(B) - P(A \cap B) = P(A \cup B) \le 1$$

Robert Israel
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5

The inequality is not correct, for example, let $A$ be the event that you get a head and $B$ be the even that you get a tail.

$$P(A \cap B)=0$$

$$P(A)+P(B)-1=0$$

$$0> 0$$ which is a contradiction.

Siong Thye Goh
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2

$$P(A\cap B)-P(A)-P(B)+1=P(A)P(B)-P(A)-P(B)+1=$$ $$=\left(1-P(A)\right)\left(1-P(B)\right)\geq0$$

0

$$P(A\cup B) =P(A) +P(B) - P(A\cap B)$$

$$P(S)=1 \ge P(A \cup B)$$

$$P(A∩B) \le P(A) + P(B) - 1 $$

msm
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Amruth A
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